STACK
ANNEX
S
055
, GUIDE FOR THE
ZULU
JOURT INTERPRETER
C. }. RUDOLPH
A GUIDE FOR THE ZULU COURT INTERPRETER
A GUIDE FOR THE
ZULU
COURT INTERPRETER
By
C. J. RUDOLPH
PI ETE RM ARITZ BU RG
SHUTER & SHOOTER
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
Preface . . . . . . . . . . vii
I A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter . . 1
II Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
III Asking Questions . . . . . . . . 6
IV Some of the Words and Terms used in Court . . 9
Crimes . . . . . . . . 16
V The Native Kraal 19
Zulu Terms of Relationship . . . . 26
VI Colours of Cattle . . . . 30
Cattle diseases . . . . . . . . 36
Colours of Horses . . . . . . . . 37
Horse Sicknesses . . . . . . . . 38
Colours of Goats . . . . . . . . 38
Common ear-marks . . . . 39
VII Common Human Diseases . . . . . . 39
Bones of the Body 42
Parts of the Body 44
Internal Organs . . . . . . 46
Injuries . . . . . . . . 47
Fractures . . . . . . . . . . 47
VIII Seasons in Zulu 48
Divisions of Summer . . . . . . 48
Phases of the Moon . . . . . . 49
Thirteen Moons . . . . . . . . 50
Periods of Time . . . .' . . . . 54
IX Agricultural Terms . . . . . . . . 56
X Glossary of Zulu Forms of Greeting and
Salutation . . . . . . . . . . 59
XI Useful List of Words .. 61
2045293
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter vii
PREFACE
This booklet has been written with a view to supplying
what is believed to have been a long-felt need for the Court
Interpreter, and more especially the very junior one who has
just entered upon the threshold of his career.
In presenting to junior and even to more experienced
interpreters the facts outlined within the narrow limits of
this booklet, I wish to point out that I do not pose as a
fully-fledged authority on the wide and complicated subject
with which it deals. My object is, however, to render in-
valuable assistance by placing on record such information
as must frequently be referred to Zulu Interpreters in Courts
of Law, and thereby to evoke a livelier interest in the study
of Zulu terminology among those whose vocation it may be to
become Court Interpreters. It will therefore be appreciated
that the facts and information contained in this booklet
should be of invaluable assistance to my fellow-interpreters.
While endeavouring to conform to conciseness and
clarity of content, the latter has not been sacrificed for
brevity. It nevertheless must be admitted that no one is
more conscious of the limitations and the apparent defi-
ciencies of this work, than the author. I have had to omit
much that I should have liked to include within these narrow
limits, but the reader should garner useful and valuable
information from the various and varied references contained
in this booklet, which purposes to be mainly a work of
reference. In a more direct way, it is meant to foster an
ambition among the aspirant interpreter that will beget a
desire for research into the intricacies of his everyday work.
Such were the genuine motives that inspired the writer.
The author tenders his grateful acknowledgments to
viii A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Mr. S. R. Dent, Chief Inspector of Native Education in
Natal, and to the editors of the Native Teachers' Journal
for permission to include in this work the Glossary of the
Zulu form of Salutations and Greetings.
With the permission of Professor C. M. Doke, and Messrs.
Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd., and the E. P. & Commercial
Printing Co. Ltd., some Zulu terms of relationship and
periods of time, and- words appertaining to the Native Kraal
have been included in this booklet.
To other authorities and to friends for their assistance
in other ways, my appreciation is likewise tendered.
C.J.R.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
CHAPTER I
A Court Interpreter is an important official in the trial
of cases in a Court of Law. As the pivot of the Court, he
bears a heavy responsibility in the administration of justice,
and upon him depends to a great degree the proper elucida-
tion of the issues as well as the avoidance of miscarriage of
justice. This is especially the case where the Bench, the
Public Prosecutor and the Side Bar are not conversant with
both the languages used in the proceedings.
Interpreting is not the mere translation of words from
one language into the other, but it requires the ability on
the part of the interpreter to convey the right meaning of
what he interprets. It follows, therefore, that for one to
qualify as a useful and competent interpreter, he must be
equipped with an extensive vocabulary in the languages
required.
In addition to the above-mentioned qualities, the closest
study and acquisition of a sound knowledge of the people's
manner of thought, reasoning and expression are necessary,
in a word, their psychology and traditions. Especially is
this desirable with the Zulu language, a language which,
frequently, has words with two or more different meanings,
a difference in tone being the only distinguishing feature,
e.g., umBala (colour), umBala (shin bone) ; inyanga (native
doctor), inyanga (moon) ; umhlaBa (earth), umhlaBa (aloe) ;
sinda (smear), sinda (escape, recover from illness), sinda (to
be heavy as a weight) ; shisa (burn, be hot), shisa (iron
or press), shisa (be unbearable, severe).
Last, but not least, an interpreter must be sympathetic.
I say so because it will be observed that a very big percentage
of Native witnesses when called to go into the witness-box,
are seized or overcome by a certain amount of nervousness,
2 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
especially the raw type of Native who has never before beer,
in a Court of Law.
Under such circumstances, the interpreter must en-
deavour to make the witness feel " at home " in the witness-
box. This can be done by passing a few private remarks to
the witness after the oath has been administered, and before
the evidence is led, e.g., " Try to forget that you are in the
witness-box and speak to me as though in an ordinary con-
versation ; there is nothing to be afraid of, the "Mantshi
is a good man," etc. In this way a big percentage of nervous-
ness is expelled from the witness.
The following is an outline of procedure in a Criminal
action.
Pleas by an accused person on arraignment.
In a Criminal case the Presiding Magistrate, the Public
Prosecutor or the Interpreter reads out the indictment to
the accused person. This done, the accused is asked, through
the interpreter, what he pleads, thus :
" Are you guilty or not guilty of the charge preferred
against you ? "
" Uyalivuma noma uyaliphika icala oBekwe lona ? "
This interpretation is correct, but it unfortunately
creates a puzzle in the mind of a raw Native person for the
following reasons :
1. The Native's own court asks no such questions.
2. While European Law presumes an accused person to be
innocent until he is proved to be guilty, in Native Law
he is presumed to be guilty until he has established his
innocence.
The accused Native reasons thus It is not my duty to
declare my guilt or innocence, but it is for the court to do so
after having heard mine and my witnesses' evidence as
against that of the complainant and his witnesses.
Consequently such pleas as the following are not un-
common in the trial of Natives for criminal acts, viz. :
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 3
1 . I am guilty, yet I am not completely guilty.
Ngiyalivuma kodwa angilivumi kahle.
2. Let the Court decide.
Inkantolo ayizi6onele OR Inkosi ayiziBonele.
3 I do not know Angazi.
1 "I am guilty, yet I am not completely guilty," may mean
(a) I did it through being forced, through ignorance,
through being misled or under provocation.
(b) I am guilty because an inmate of my kraal did it.
(c) I know something about the crime, but I did not
commit it.
2. " Let the Court decide," means :
The law presumes that I am guilty because I have been
brought to court and charged.
3. " I do not know," the same meaning as 2.
As a result of the above pleas, the Courts usually record
one of " Not Guilty." As will be shown later, a competent
interpreter can obviate this state of affairs and succeed with
the least difficulty in eliciting the proper plea from the
accused person without any waste of time.
To prevent the occurrence of the above and similar
meaningless pleas, which doubtless reveal an ignorance of
Court procedure on the part of the accused Native, the
interpreter should put the question in the following manner,
e.g. Stock Theft Case Theft of a Sheep.
" Uyalivuma noma uyaliphika yini icala ? " ,
" Do you admit or deny the charge ? "
OR, better still
" UyeBile yini noma awuyeBanga imvu na ? "
" Did you steal the sheep or did you not ? "
The Court is now assured of getting the proper plea,
for even if the accused Native gives the thieves' favourite
expression of "Kuthiwa ngiyiyeBile" "It is said I have stolen
it," that expression means, " Not guilty."
4 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
There are cases, too, where a miscarriage of justice may
result, for example :
1. A Native is charged, say, with assault by hitting " A "
on the head with a stick. The interpreter informs
accused that he is charged with hitting " A " on the head
with a stick, and asks the accused, " Did you hit the
complainant on the head with a stick ? " and accused
will reply, " Yes."
The interpreter informs the Court that accused pleads
guilty to the charge, and accused is found guilty and sen-
tenced. Very frequently in such cases, the accused, while
admitting that he hit " A " on the head with a stick, does
not intend to plead guilty at all, for he would like to go on
and plead, " I did it in self-defence, after " A " had assaulted
me," in which case, of course, the correct plea is " Not
guilty," and the Court will thereupon try out the issue of
" self-defence," or the circumstances of mitigation.
2. In the same way an accused charged with deserting from
his Master's service, is asked, " Did you leave your
Master's service on Saturday ? " to which the accused
will reply " I did," without meaning in any way to plead
guilty to the charge, yet the inexperienced interpreter
will inform the Court that the accused pleads guilty to
the charge, whereas in reality the accused has really
only replied correctly to the question, " Did you leave
your Master's service on Saturday ? "
Actually, accused did leave his Master's service on
Saturday, not with the intention of deserting at all, and in
circumstances not amounting to desertion. It is evident,
therefore, that the interpreter bears a heavy responsibility,
otherwise a gross miscarriage of justice may result. His respon-
sibility lies in getting a correct plea from the accused, and if
the accused qualifies his plea in any way, then the correct
plea is, " Not guilty."
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 5
CHAPTER II
Evidence
Assuming that the person charged is a Native and the
witnesses giving evidence against the accused are also
Natives, the interpreter should see to it, during the making
of the declarations by the various witnesses against the
accused, that every tittle of evidence is interpreted, to enable
the Court to appreciate all the points mentioned by the
witnesses. He should treat every utterance as absolutely
necessary for interpretation, irrespective of how foolish or
how ignorant it may appear to be, and guard against the
witnesses speaking in low tones and thus avoid the danger
of omitting facts which are vital to the issue.
The interpreter should never hesitate to draw the
attention of the Court to his own inability to interpret words,
phrases or sentences through any misconception or ignorance.
He should never " chance his arm," as that may be detri-
mental to the accused's or the Crown case, and mislead the
Court if unnoticed. The interpreter should always remember
to
1 . Listen carefully to what is said and be sure that he him-
self fully understands before he attempts to translate.
2. Speak clearly and distinctly.
3. Keep his attention on the work in hand and avoid
day-dreaming.
4. Avoid loss of temper, or becoming impatient.
5. Be prepared to learn new words in the vernacular, as
well as in Zulu.
As the mouth-piece of the person for whom one is
interpreting, the interpreter should always speak in the
First Person, thus :
Magistrate Interpreter
" I find you guilty." fNgiyakulahla \Ulahlwayicala.
" I find you not guilty." \Ngiyakuthetha / Uthetwa yicala.
6 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
NOT,
" Ithi iMantshi icala liyakulahla OR icala liyakuthetha"
On the other hand again, if the witnesses in a Criminal
action against a Native accused person are not Natives, and
their evidence is given in a language which is not understood
by the accused, the interpreter should see to it that every
tittle of evidence is interpreted to the accused, to enable him
to appreciate all the points mentioned by the witnesses.
CHAPTER III
Asking Questions
This being another important part of the proceedings in
a Criminal action, particularly where Natives are concerned,
the interpreter should endeavour to prove his usefulness.
Through using a literal translation of, " Have you any
questions to ask the witness upon the evidence he has given ?"
The time of the Court is usually wasted for obvious reasons.
It must be remembered that the Native is a stranger to the
procedure. If he is asked the question, he will signify his
desire to do so, and when asked to go on, will commence
making a statement. To prevent this, and to save time in
Court, the interpreter should turn the statement into a
question, thus :
Accused Interpreter
Uyazi ukuthi ngangisejele You know that I was in gaol
ukweSiwa kwayo imvu. when the sheep was stolen.
Should be interpreted as follows :
UBungazi yini ukuthi Do you not know that when the
ngangiBoshiwe ngisejele, sheep was stolen I was serv-
ukwe6iwa kwayo imvu ? ing a term of imprisonment ?
No time of the Court can possibly be wasted, nor can
there be any prejudice to the accused's case, if the inter-
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 7
preter ably turns statements made unnecessarily and through
ignorance, into questions. In doing so he should, however,
take the greatest care not to put the words into the witness's
mouth, or in any way suggest an answer.
It sometimes happens that because a question is inter-
preted literally, and the accused Native is unable to grasp
the idea of asking questions, that when ultimately he is
asked if he has a statement to make, will reply, " I have
nothing further to say." Why is this ? The accused after
cross-examining or " contradicting " a witness, is evidently
under the -impression that his questions or "statements"
amount to his evidence, and when eventually asked whether
he wishes to give evidence or make a statement, he will reply
" I have nothing further to say," whereas, in fact, nothing
which he has previously said has been recorded. Accused is
found guilty and sentenced. The interpreter should have
informed the accused that his evidence or statements have
not been recorded and that he now has the opportunity of
telling the Court his version of the story, and that as the
witnesses have given their evidence on oath, it is advisable
for him to do so also, and not merely make an unsworn
statement from the dock.
The difference between his evidence on oath from the
witness-box, and a mere unsworn statement from the dock
is seldom appreciated by a Native. It is necessary to impress
this difference upon an accused before asking him to elect
whether he wishes to make a sworn statement from the
witness-box or an unsworn statement from the dock, other-
wise he will not appreciate that the Court cannot accept an
unsworn statement in contradiction of the sworn evidence
of a witness.
Then again, it is common practice for Native accused
persons, when asked if they have any questions to ask, to
reply, " Anginawo umBuzo." " I have no question to ask."
The Court naturally concludes, and it is justified in doing so,
8 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
that the accused admits the correctness of the witnesses s
evidence, and yet in the majority of cases it is the other way
about. This usually is made manifest by the outburst of the
accused when asked to make a statement if he has any, thus :
" Ngiyamphikisa usi6ani6ani kuwo wonke amazwi
akheakalikhulumi iqiniso."
" I contradict the whole of so-and-so's evidence, he has
not told the truth."
Then the Court wonders why he did not ask any
questions when invited to do so.
The following two ways of asking the accused person
if he has any questions to ask the witness, are suggested :
1. " Uyawavuma noma uyawaphika yini amazwi alandwe
ngufakazi ngawe ? "
" Do you admit or deny the statement made by the
witness about you ? "
The accused is bound to state either " I deny " or "I
admit it." If the former, then the interpreter should proceed
and say, " Speak to him, or argue with him." The accused
will commence asking questions without being specifically
told to do so. If the latter, it of course, means no questions.
OR
2. "Kukhona yini ufakazi akushilo ofuna ukukuphikisa,
noma okungesilo iqiniso ?"
" Is there anything which the witness has stated which
you wish to contradict, or which is not true ? "
Accused will then readily raise the necessary points,
but, in doing so, he will generally not ask a question of the
witness, but will state " I deny so-and-so." The interpreter
should then put the point to the witness in the form of a
question, " Did you do so-and-so ? " or " Did such and such
a thing occur ? "
It is absolutely necessary in the interests of justice that
the interpreter should be very experienced in Court procedure
and have some legal knowledge. Many questions cannot be
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 9
asked in leading form by, say, a Prosecutor, and he has to
approach the subject delicately, yet the inexperienced
interpreter will " barge in " and put the question in a leading
form to the witness.
CHAPTER IV
Some of the Words and Terms used in Court
I will read out the indict- N gizakufundela amazwi ecala
ment to you. oliBekiwe.
You did wrongfully, unlaw- Wena, wonile ngoku6eka isa-
fully and maliciously ndla ngaphandle komthe-
assault .... tho nangokusopha ....
By striking him on the head, Ngokumshaya ekhanda nge-
with a stick. nduku.
What do you plead ? Uphendula uthini ngecala ?
Do you plead guilty or not Uyalivuma noma uyaliphika
guilty ? icala ?
I plead guilty. Ngiyalivuma.
I plead not guilty. Ngiyaliphika.
To kill and murder. Uku6ulala-nje nokuBulala nge-
nhloso.
Note " To murder " is also translated " ukuBulala " but
the correct translation of the word is " ukuBulala ngenhloso."
The following are other meanings of the verb " uku-
Bulala " :
1. UkuBulala. To lay some heavy weight
upon a person's body, or
part of it.
2. UkuBulala. To adduce evidence against
another.
3. UkuBulala. To side with one's opponents.
4. UkuBulala. To convict upon weak evi-
dence.
10
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
UkuBulala (ngensini}.
UkuBulala (ngendlala).
UkuziBulala.
UkuziBulala.
5. UkuBulala. To unjustifiably deprive one
of his belongings.
To make one laugh.
To starve a person or animal.
To commit suicide.
To stint one's self food ; to
eat too little. To act in a
manner detrimental to
oneself.
To ill-treat or oppress.
Uyavuma ukuBa icala lithe-
thwe ngaphandle kweSa-
maniso eliphethe amazwi
ecala othweswe lona ?
OR,
Do you wish the case to be Noma ufuna ukuBa lihlehliswe
10.. UkuBulala.
Do you consent to a
summary trial ?
adjourned, a Summons
to be handed to you,
and you be given an
opportunity to prepare
your defence and collect
your witnesses ?
Oath of a Heathen
Put up your right hand.
Take the oath and say, OR
Follow me and say the words
I say.
I swear that the evidence I
am about to give in this
case, shall be the truth,
the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth ;
and I know that if I
tifakwe iSamaniso (eli-
phethe amazwi ecala}, uni-
kwe ithuBa lokuzivikela,
ulethe nofakazi Bakho na ?
Ukufungiswa kongeyilo
Ikholwa
Misa isandla sokudla.
Funga uthi.
Landela lokhu engizokiisho.
Ngiyafunga ukuBa amazwi-
engizakuwakhuluma kule-
licala azokuBa iqiniso, iqi-
niso eliphelele, iqiniso
elilodwa ; ngiyazi okokuthi
uma ngike ngakhuluma
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 11
speak falsely I may be amanga ngingajeziswa
severely punished. kanzima.
Oath of a Christian.
The whole of the heathen oath is to be repeated to the
end of " elilodwa " and " ngelekelele Thixo ", be added.
The Prosecutor withdraws Umshushisi uyalihoxisa icala
the charge against you. kuwe.
Your case is remanded. Icala lakho liyahlehliswa.
Guilty. . Liyakulahla.
Not Guilty. Liyakuvuma.
Sentence. Isijeziso.
Verdict. Isinqumo.
Suspended Sentence.
As no such sentence exists in Native Law, it is better
explained than interpreted. The following are two examples
of a suspended sentence :
Example No. 1
I fine you 20 or three Ngikuhlawulisa 20 noma,
months imprisonment ufanele uBoshwe izinyanga
with hard labour, sus- ezintathu nomseSenzi onzi-
pended for 12 months, ma. Lenhlawulo izoku-
on condition of good linda izinyanga ezi 12,
behaviour during that utna uziphethe kahle kuso
period. sonke lesosikhathi ; iyoSe
ihoxisiwe.
Example No. 2
I fine you 20 or three Ngikuhlawulisa 20 noma, ufa-
months imprisonment nele uBoshwe izinyanga
with hard labour, of ezintathu nomse6enzi onzi-
which 10 or 6 weeks is ma. Kulemali ishumi
suspended for 12 lawopondwe noma isithu-
months, on condition pha samasonto kuzoku-
that you do not commit linda izinyanga ezi 12
12
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
any crime involving
violence during that
period.
Warning to Prisoner
before he gives evidence.
Do you desire to give evi-
dence ? You may give
evidence on oath or
without taking the oath.
If you elect to give evi-
dence after having been
sworn, you will be ques-
tioned like other wit-
nesses, and you are to
answer all the questions
put to you by the Prose-
cutor and the Magis-
trate, even if your reply
brings out evidence that
is against you, you must
reply. If you give evi-
dence without having
been sworn, no questions
will be asked from you,
but the evidence you
give without having
been sworn will not be
of such weight as the
evidence which may be
given on oath.
kuhoxisiwe. Uma unge-
nzanga isiphosiso soBu-
dlwangu kuso sonke leso-
sikhathi.
Ukuxwayiswa kwesi-
6oshwa singakafakazi.
Unesifiso sokufakaza na ? Nxa
uthanda uzofungiswa nxa
ungathandi qha. Emva
kwalokho uzokuBuzwa nje-
ngofakazi aBanye, uwa-
phendule onke amazwi
owa6uzwa umShushisi ne-
Mantshi, noma impendulo
yakho iveza amazwi ala-
hlana nawe, umelwe uku-
phendula. Uma ulanda
ungafungisiwe, awuyuku-
Buzwa lutho, kodwa ama-
zwi, owalanda ungafungi-
siwe akayukuBa nesisindo
njengamazwi angalandwa
ufungisiwe.
Do
you desire
evidence ?
to give Uyafuna ukufakaza na ?
A Guide for the Zulu Court interpreter
Do you desire to give evi-
dence on oath or with-
out the oath ?
Do you desire to give evi-
dence in the place where
witnesses give evidence
or where you are stand-
ing ?
If you give evidence without
being sworn no one can
examine you, not even
your lawyer.
You have been found guilty
of murder, for the
reasons which you have
heard, and you have
also heard that the
Court has been unable
to find extenuating cir-
cumstances which would
have enabled it to pass
a sentence other than
death. Have you any-
thing to say why the
death sentence should
not be passed upon you
(have you anything to
say why the sentence
which I am now con-
strained to pass should
not be pronounced).
The record of these pro-
ceedings, together with
anything you may now
say, shall be transmitted
Ufuna ukufakaza ufungisiwe
noma ungafimgisiwe nal
Ufuna ukufakaza lapho kulan-
da khona ofakazi aBanye
na ? Noma khona lapho
umikhona na ?
Uma ufakaza ungafungisiwe
kakho ongakuBuza lutho,
ngisho nommeli wakho.
Ulahliwe yicala lokuBulala
umuntu ngokungemthetho ,
umhlosile, uqondile uku-
mBulala, ngezizathu ozi-
zwile nawe, uzwile ngo-
kuthi iNkantolo (ama-
Khosi, amajaji] yahlu-
lekile ukukuBonelela ngco-
no kulelicala uku6a aku-
Bekele isijeziso esinye ku-
nokuBa unqunywe ufe.
Izincwadi zonke zalelicala
zizothunyelwa kuSiBalu-
khulu kanye nokungakhu-
lunywa nguwe manje,
indaBa yethulwe kuye
ukuze kuhambe ngaye
(ngokusho kwakhe). Una-
kho ongakusho ngokuthi
kungani ukuBa ungaBeke-
Iwa isijeziso sokunqu-
nywa ?
14 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
to His Excellency the
Governor-General, with
whom the final decision
shall lie.
The sentence of the Court
is that you be returned
to lawful custody and
there detained until a
time to be determined
by His Excellency the
Governor-General, and
that you then be taken
to a place of execution
and there hanged by the
neck until you are dead.
Preparatory examination
Caution.
As you have heard the evi-
dence of the witnesses,
do you desire to give
your evidence now ?
You need not if you do
not desire ; if anything
has been promised you,
by reason of your giving
evidence, or punishment
by reason of your not
giving evidence, don't
pay any heed to it.
What you state will be
written and will be evi-
dence on the day of
trial.
Isijeziso saseNkantolo singe-
sokuthi uyophindiselwa
ejele, ugcinwe ngomthetho
lapho, kuze kufike isi-
khathi esizoBonwa nguSi-
Balukhulu, laphoke uyo-
yiswa kwalahla6antu ufike
uphanyekwe ngentamo
yakho, ulenge uze ufe nya.
Ukuxwayiswa mayelana
nokuhlolwa kwecala.
Njengoku6a usuwezwile ama-
zwi awofakazi uyafuna
ukunika oBakho uBitfakazi
manje na ? AwuBoshiwe
ukulanda uma ungatha-
ndi ; uma ikhona into
othenjiswe yona ngoku-
landa kwakho akukho
ngozi uma ungalandi,
futhi awunakiijeziswa uma
ungalandi. Konke kuBeke
eceleni wenze okuqondwe
nguwe luqoBo. Okukhuhi-
mayo kolotshwa kuBe uBu-
fakazi mhla sekuthethwa
icala.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
15
I reserve my defence.
I desire to give evidence now.
Do you desire to question
him ?
Question, do not make a
statement. The time for
giving evidence will
come.
I understand that you wish
to make a confession.
The statement you wish to
make must be done
freely and voluntarily
without having been
influenced thereto, and
I must warn you that
you are not obliged to
make a statement, but
any statement which
you wish to make will
be reduced to writing
and may be used in
evidence against you at
your trial.
The foregoing statement was
made to me by the said
who was then
and there in his sound
and sober senses, and
after it was recorded the
statement was read over
and interpreted to
and adhered
to and signed by him
before me.
Ngolanda phambili.
Ngithanda ukulanda manje.
Uyathanda ukumBuza na ?
Euza, ungalandi, sofika isi-
khathi sokulanda.
Ngizwa ukuthi uthanda uku-
khipha isiftiBa sakho.
Amazwi ofisa ukuwalanda ku-
melwe uwalande ngenkulu-
leko nangokuzithandela
kwakho, futhi angikuyale
ukuthi awuSophekile uku-
landa lutho ; kodwa ama-
zwi ofisa ukuwakhuluma
azolotshwa phansi, futhi
funa aphenduke uBufakazi
o6uphikisana nawe ecaleni
Lamazwi alandwa ngasenhla
akhulunywe phambi kwa-
tni nguye u..
uqoBo, ngalesosikhathi
ingqondo yakhe iphelele,
kwathi ngemuva kokuBa
eselotshiwe atnazwi, wawa-
fundelwa yena wavuma
okuthi yiwona awakhe
impela wawaBekela isa-
ndla phambi kwami.
16
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
LEGAL EXPRESSIONS
(Criminal)
Attorney-General.
Attorney-General declines to
prosecute.
Attorney-General has
decided upon indicting.
Preparatory Examination.
Remitted by Attorney-
General under ordinary
Jurisdiction.
Case sent for review.
Case remitted by Attorney-
General for further
evidence.
umChazimthetho .
umChazimthetho ulichithile
icala.
Ulidlulisel-a phambili ejajini
umChazimthetho.
Ukuhlolwa kwecala.
umChazimthetho uli6uyisele
icala ukuBa lizothethwa
yiMantshi ilinqume.
Lisathunyelwe ukuyohlolwa
ijaji.
umChazimthetho uliBuyisele
icala ukuBa kuzogcwaliswa
uBufakazi.
CRIMES-
Abortion.
Accessory after the fact.
Accidental Homicide.
Agitator.
Arson.
Assault with intent to do
grievous bodily harm.
Assault with intent to rape.
Attempted Rape.
Attempting Suicide.
Behave riotously.
Bestiality.
AM AC ALA
tikuphum'isisu.
ukuphathelana nesono OR
ukuphatheka esonweni.
ukuBulala umuntu kunga-
qondiwe.
idungaBantu.
ukushis' indlu nga6omu.
ukudlwengula kokulimaza.
ukumdlwengula ngokulinga
ukuphoqa.
ukulinga ukuphoqa owesifa-
zane.
ukulinga ukuziBulala.
ukwenza uBudlwangudlwangu.
u6ulwane.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
17
Bigamy.
Bribe.
Commit a breach of the
peace.
Commutation of Sentence
of Death.
'Conspiracy.
Conspire against.
Conspiring to defeat the ends
of Justice.
Criminal injuria.
Cruelty to animals.
Culpable Homicide.
Drive negligently.
Drunkenness.
Entice.
Extortion.
Fabricating evidence.
False pretences.
Fraudulently.
Harbour a Criminal required
by the law.
Hearsay evidence.
High Treason.
Hindering or interfering
with the police in the
execution of their duty.
Homicide.
House-breaking.
House-breaking and Theft.
Ignorance of law.
ukushadakaBili .
ukuthenga.
ukudunga ukuthula.
isinciphiso sesijeziso sokufa.
ugo6e OR isigungu.
nkwenzela isigungu ; ukuha-
mbela ngaphansi.
ukuBopha ingalo yomthetho.
ukwenzela amanyala.
ukuphatha impahla efuyiwe
ngonya.
ukuBulala ingekho inhloso.
ukushayela ngokungaqapheli,
OR ukuhambisa ngokun-
gaqapheli.
ukudakwa.
ukuwunga.
ukuthatha imali ngoBuqili.
ukuxova uBufakazi.
amaceBo okuwanqa.
ngoBuwaka.
ukufihla isigeBengu esinecala.
amazwi okutshelwa.
ukugwaz'inkosi.
ukuthikimeza amaphoyisa eku-
qhuBeni umseBenzi wawo.
ukuBulala ngengozi.
ukugqekeza.
ukugqekeza nokweBa.
ukungawazi umthetho.
18 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Illicit intercourse. ukuphinga.
Impersonation. ukuziBiza ngomunye.
Incest. ukulala umzalwane.
Incite. ukuqhuqhutela.
Indecent assault. iikudlwengula kokuphoxa.
Insanity. ukuphamBana kwengqondo.
Judgment is reserved. isinqumo siBekelwe amazolo.
Justifiable homicide. ukuBulala umuntu okufanele.
Kill accidentally. ukuBulala ngengozi.
Kill in self-defence. ukuBulala ngokuzilamulela.
Maliciously. ngokusopha.
Murder. ukuBulala ngenhloso.
Murderer. umBulali.
Perjury. ukufunga amanga.
Plot secretly conspire. ukuhamba ngaphansi.
Procure abortion. ukukhip'isisu.
Rape. ukuphoqa owesifazane.
Ravish ; seduce. ukona ; ukumekezisa.
Riot or faction fight. uchuku.
Riotous behaviour or conduct. uBudlwangudlwangu.
Riotous person. isidlwangudlwangu.
Rob or robbery. ukuphanga.
Set aside a judgment. ukuphengula ukunquny wa kwe-
cala.
Solitary confinement. ukuvalelwa wedwana.
Subornation of Perjury. ukufungisa amanga.
Theft by conversion. uBusela ngokuzenza umnininto.
. Theft by false pretences. ukuthatha into ngamanga.
Theft of stock. ukweBa impahla efuyiwe.
Treat leniently. ukuBonelela.
Trespass. ukona.
Use obscene language. ukubina.
Vagrancy. ukuzula.
Violence. indluzula.
Weight of evidence. indikimba yoBufakazi.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 19
CHAPTER V
THE NATIVE KRAAL
(a) Sub-divisions.
(b) Inmates.
(c) Appurtenances.
Most of the information appearing in the subjoined
statement has been obtained from R. C. Samuelson's Zulu
King Cetywayo Dictionary, page 636, and the Native Teachers'
Journal, Natal, (Vol. XXIII, No. 3 of April, 1944).
iBeshu
imBiza
uBoko
iBungu
iBungwana
isiCaBa OR isiValo
isiCamelo
iCansi (ucansi}
uCelemba
isiCongo (isiqongo]
that part of the male's " umutsha "
hanging behind when it consists
of a single piece of leather. It is
generally broad and long and is
used for sitting on while worn.
cooking pot also used for keeping
beer in.
long, thick stick, used for defence when
fighting.
boy 17 or 18 years of age.
boy 15 to 16 years of age.
door itself which is used to close the
opening.
wooden pillow.
sleeping mat ("icansi" as pronounced
up country and " ucansi " as
pronounced in the Coast and
Zululand.)
Cane knife.
projecting tuft on the centre of the
hut-top, formed by the ends of
the thatch of the hut being brought
firmly together and very firmly
tied together to prevent leakage.
20 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreted
umDlela shield third in size after the " isi-
hlangu " ; about two by one and
a half feet.
izinDluBu jugo-beans.
liDondolo walking-stick.
u Donga wall ; also a deep water- wash.
N.B. " Iwendlu " has to follow and
be used with udonga to express
the wall of a house, e.g., udonga
Iwendlu.
izinDumba cow-peas.
uDum6edum6e kind of Native potato.
isiDwaba Native woman's leather kilt.
umFana boy ; a youth.
iGceke open ground inside or outside the kraal,
when it is clear of grass.
isaGila knobkerrie with a rough and natural
head or knob, mostly used to hunt
birds and small game.
iGotshwa folding knife (clasp-knife).
isiGqiki wooden stool.
isiGubu calabash.
iGula calabash for preparing and keeping
" amasi " in.
umGulugulu entrance part of the doorway ; the
space between the doorway and
the fireplace.
iGuma semi-circular screen erected round the
front of the doorway, to keep out
winds and dust. Wind-screen.
iHawu much smaller fighting shield, not for
warfare, but for ordinary fighting
with sticks.
N.B. Some Natives call the large
shield an " ihawu" .
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
uHlangothi lonmzi
isiHlangu
isijula
uKhamba
iKhehla
iKhohlo (iKhohlwa)
umKhonto
umKhwili
iKlwa
izinKoBe
inKosana
inKosazana
inKosikazi
iLnwu
side of a kraal.
large battle shield.
assegai for game, having a fair-sized,
narrowish blade, and a long shaft.
clay-pot. Earthenware pot for drinking
beer out of.
man of 40 years and over.
left hand senior house of a kraal ; also
applied to the woman herself, and
to her hut ; she is, as a rule, the
second married wife of a man ;
the hut stands near the top of the
left hand side of the kraal, judged
by standing at the gate of the kraal
and facing the " indlunkulu ".
assegai.
ground-nut ; the " izindluBu ", when
boiled with their shells.
large, long-bladed stabbing assegai,
used for warfare.
Boiled mealies.
eldest or chief son of a man or the
eldest son of any division of the
kraal.
chief daughter ; or the eldest daughter
of each hut, or used for sake of
respect, to refer to any young
unmarried woman.
chief wife of a Native or the chief
woman of any division of the
kraal ; also applied to any of the
wives of a man.
young unmarried man's hut ; also
used by young boys and by
visitors.
22 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
isiLili floor of a hut, more especially that
part used for sleeping purposes.
A Native hut has two sides, i.e.,
" isilili somfazi " and " isilili se-
ndoda " . " isiLili somfazi " is
on the left hand side of the hut
and belongs to the woman. " isi-
Lili sendoda " is on the right hand
side of the hut and belongs to the
man . A female does not sit on the
male's side of the hut and the
male does not sit on the female's
side. A male will go on to the
female's side only to fetch some-
thing, but will not remain there.
isaLukazi old woman.
isiLuht large receptacle of grass, plaited and
narrowed at the mouth and used
for holding grain.
iMbenge small basket.
iNdlunkulu " great house " the chief house in a
kraal ; from it the other houses
take their position and with its
affiliated houses it forms the
" indlunkulu " section of the kraal.
isiNene part of a male's " umutsha ", consisting
of various pieces of skin cut into
and twisted so as to afford a
covering.
iNgod^lsi young woman when she has had every-
thing arranged for her marriage,
and the only thing remaining to
make her a wife being the marriage
ceremony.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
23
iNjoBo
iNkehli
iNqoloBane (ingoBo]
iNsaBule
iNsika
iNsizwa
iNtombazana
iNtombi
amaNtongomane
iNtshengula
umNumzana
iNxiwa
umNyango
uPhahla
isiPhapha
isiPhenama
i Qadi
one of the various pieces making up the
" umutsha " all of which are fixed
onto an " isiphenama ".
girl who has put on the top-knot pre-
paratory to being married, ages
from 21 upwards.
grain hut erected on a platform called
" uBamba ".
sword.
main upright pole used in a hut to
support its roof.
adult male from about 20 and upward,
until he becomes 40 years of age.
girl.
adult girl up to when she is married,
when she becomes " umfazi ".
monkey-nuts.
small spoon made out of bone or horn
and used for snuffing and for
cleaning out the nostrils.
kraalhead ; the owner of a kraal ;
also used to apply to a person
who has some wealth, or to a
person of high standing.
old as well as a new kraal site.
door opening, i.e., the doorway.
roof.
broad-bladed assegai.
roll of leather on to which the various
parts forming the " umutsha "
are fixed.
right hand senior house of a kraal ;
the hut stands on the right hand
side of the kraal, towards the top
thereof, as judged by standing at
24 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
the gate of the kraal and facing
the " indlunkulu ".
u Qwembe large wooden dish for holding meat.
umSamo back part of a hut (within).
umSele place at the back part of the kraal-
head's side of a hut, where the
calabashes are kept.
umShiza thick straight stick for fighting.
iShungu snuff-box, also called " idlelo ".
iThala shelf at the back of the hut. Food that
is left over from a meal is placed
on this shelf.
uThango fence ; a hedge (any fence grown or
erected).
isiTheBe article of plaited grass or fibre used as
a platter on which to place and
cut cooked meat and solid foods.
uThingo long wattle, which, with many others,
is used to form the frame-work
of a hut.
iThombe place at the back part of the woman's
side of a hut, with a raised rim
all round, and within which calves
sleep at night.
umuTsha the whole of the front and back of a
male's as well as an unmarried
woman's wearing apparel, which
is suspended round the loins and
hangs down to cover the privates.
iTshitshi girl in her teens (intombazana esaphuma
amaBele] .
uTshumentshu sword-stick.
(inTshumentshu)
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
25
iVovo (ihluzo)
iWisa
iXhegu
iXhiSa
isiZa
isiZenze
iZiko
isiZinda
strainer for straining off liquids from
solids ; strainer for straining and
preparing beer.
knobkerrie, specially cut and made.
an old man over 70 years of age.
roughly made hut for cooking, or for
keeping small animals in, or one
built among garden crops from
which to watch and scare away
birds and animals from the crops
while they are ripening ; store-hut.
hut site.
battle-axe.
fireplace.
ancestral kraal or the name applied to
the chief woman or the chief son
of the chief woman of such kraal,
or the woman appointed as head
of such kraal.
N.B. Among men of substance, a
certain one of the wives of the man
is specially appointed to bear the
heir to and represent a man's
father's or grandfather's kraal,
and to inherit the estate of that
kraal to the exclusion of all other
sons ; the heir of this kraal is
looked upon as the father of the
other sons, and matters of impor-
tance are referred to him first
before they are dealt with. He
can only inherit this kraal's estate,
and has no right to the estate, in
the indlunkulu, ikhohlo or iqadi
26 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
until after all the heirs of those
houses have died out.
In his Text- Book of Zulu Grammar (4th Edition), from
page 373, Professor C. M. Doke, gives the following valuable
statement of Zulu terms of Relationship :
A. Blood Relationship
Third Ascending Generation :
The term ukoko or ukhokho is applied to the great-
grandparents on both sides, and to all their brothers and
sisters.
Second Ascending Generation :
The term ugogo is applied to the grandparents on both
sides and to the brothers and sisters of these.
Possessive terms, u6a6amkhulu (my, our grandfather),
uyihlomkhulu (thy, your grandfather), and uyisemkhulu (his,
her, their grandfather), are used for the father's father and
mother's father with their brothers, the father's mother's
brothers and the mother's mother's brothers.
ukhulu is used for the father's mother and the mother's
mother with their sisters, and for the father's father's sisters
and mother's father's sisters. Special possessive terms
corresponding to ukhulu are :
umakhulu (my, our grandmother)
unyokokhulu (thy, your grandmother) and
uninakhulu (his, her, their grandmother).
First Ascending Generation :
Possessive terms, u6aBa (my, our father), uyihlo (thy,
your father), and uyise (his, her, their father), are used to
indicate the father, the father's brothers, the husbands of
the mother's sisters, the sons of the father's father's brothers
and of the father's mother's brothers. The adjectives
omkhulu and omncane may be added to these terms to indi-
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 27
cate elder and younger respectively, e.g., u6aBa omkhulu
(my father's elder brother).
Possessive terms, uma or umame (my, our mother),
unyoko (thy, your mother), and unina (his, her, their mother)
are used to indicate the mother, the mother's sisters, the
wives of the father and of the father's brothers, and the
daughters of the mother's mother's sisters and of the mother's
father's sisters.
The mother's sisters may also be called by the possessive
terms : umamekazi, unyokokazi, and uninakazi. The
adjectives omkhulu and omncane may be added to the above
terms to indicate elder and younger respectively, e.g.,
unyoko omncane or unyokokazi omncane (thy mother's
younger sister). The father's sister (and sometimes the
father's brother) is indicated by the possessive terms
u6a6ekazi, uyihlokazi, and uyisekazi with the distinctions for
elder and younger.
The possessive terms uBaBa, etc., are also sometimes,
though rarely, used in this connection.
The mother's brother and his wife, and also her
" cousins " of all types, are indicated by the possessive terms
umalume, unyokolume, and uninalume.
For stepfather the possessive terms uBaBa wesiBili, etc.,
or uBaBana, etc., are used ; and for stepmother the possessive
terms umame wesiBili, etc.
Contemporary Generation :
The children of the father, of the father's brothers and
of the mother's sisters, in fact, of all those called uBaBa, etc.,
or umame, are called umfowethu (my brother), umfowenu (thy
brother), and umfowaBo (his, her brother) ; or udadewethu
(my sister), udadewenu (thy sister), and udadewaBo (his, her
sister). The terms omkhulu and omncane may be added to
distinguish in all cases. An elder brother, child of the same
mother or father or both, may be distinguished as umune.
28 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
The children of the mother's sisters or cousins may be indi-
cated by the term okanina. Brothers and sisters may be
termed umnawe, or possessively, umnawami, etc.
The children of the father's sisters and of all called
uBaBekazi, etc., and the children of the mother's brothers and
of all called umalume, etc., are indicated by the term umzala.
The children of one mother are indicated by the .plural
term izelamani.
First Descending Generation :
The general term applied to children is umntwana. This
term is applied to one's own children and to the children of
one's brothers and sisters. Possessive terms are also used,
e.g., umntanami (my child), umntanakho (thy child), etc.,
plural a6anta6ami, etc.
To distinguish sex, the term indodana is used for a boy,
and indodakazi for a girl.
A man may call his brother's child by the descriptive
terms, umntanomfowethu, etc., and his sister's child by the
descriptive terms, umntakadadewethu, etc.
Umntwanakazi is used loosely instead of umntwana, but
should strictly be used only by umamekazi, etc. (the mother's
sister), to indicate nephew or niece.
The eldest son or heir is called inkosana or indlalifa.
This is generally the eldest son of the inkosikazi, the son of
the ikhohlo being distinguished by the term inkosana yase-
khohlo. If, however, a man has only one wife, the eldest son
is the inkosana, while the youngest son acts as ikhohlo in the
home and is himself called ikhoUo.
The first-born of the family is called iziBulo or owamazi-
Bulo. The last-born is called uthunjana or owamagcino.
Second Descending Generation :
The children of any indodana or indodakazi are termed
possessively umntanomntanami (child of my child), etc.,
with fuller forms umntwana womntanami or umntwana
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 29
womntwana wami. In the plurals, a6anta6a6antaBami
(children of my children) etc., and a6anta6omntanami
(children of my child), etc. may be made special distinctions
of relationship.
All the grandchildren, children of brothers, are called
umndeni, e.g., umndeni kaNtengo, where uNtengo is the name
of the grandfather.
Third Descending Generation :
The great-grandchildren are indicated by the terms
umzukulu, umzukulwana, or umzukulwane.
B. Relatives by Marriage
The grandparents of a wife or of a husband become the
grandparents of the spouse in each case.
The father of a man's wife is his umukhwe.
The mother of a man's wife is his iimkhwekazi.
The parents of a woman's husband are indicated by the
possessive terms iimamezala, unyokozala, and uninazala.
Parents of two married persons call one another by the
term umlingane or umkhozi.
A spouse, i.e., wife or husband, is indicated by the
possessive terms umkami, etc., or owakwami, etc.
A husband is umyeni or indoda.
A wife is umfazi ; but the wives of a polygamist are
distinguished as follows : (i) principal wife, inkosikazi,
(ii) wife of the left hand, ikhohlo, and (iii) third wife, inqadi.
A man's bride is umakoti or umloBokazi. She is also so called
by all in his kraal, and this term may also be applied to his
brother's wife.
A man's wife's brother, sister and cousins, and his
brother's wife's brother and sister are designated by the
term umlamu.
A woman's husband's brother is untfowethu, etc., as
also all whom he calls umfowethu, etc.
30 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
A woman's husband's cousin is umzala, as also all whom
he calls umzala.
A woman's husband's sister is udadewethu, etc., as also
all whom he calls udadewethu.
A man's wife's sister's husband is designated by the
possessive terms umnakwethu, etc.
A sister's husband or father's sister's husband is desig-
nated by the possessive terms umkhwenya wethu, etc., or by
umkhwenyana with wakwethu, etc., added if needed.
A fellow-wife or husband's brother's wife or husband's
cousin's wife is designated by the possessive terms uzakwethu,
etc. The terms for seniority and juniority may be added.
A woman's brother's wife is umakoti womufo, or umakoti
womune.
A person's brother's bride is designated by the possessive
terms umakoti wakwethu, etc., or umkethu, etc.
A son's wife or bride is umalokazana, or the possessive
terms umakoti wakwami, etc., or umlo6okazi wakwami, etc.,
are used in this connection.
A daughter's husband is umkwenyana ; the possessives
wakwami, etc., may be added if needed.
Any member of the husband's family calls any contem-
porary member of the wife's family umlanda ; thus his
parents use the term of her parents, and his brothers of her
brothers, etc.
CHAPTER VI
COLOURS OF CATTLE
Samuelson, in his Zulu Dictionary, from page 568, gives
a valuable statement of colours of cattle, and the beast
itself having that particular colour ; also particular denomi-
nations of cattle, as known to the Zulus. From this statement
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
31
and other works, I have selected and compiled the sub-
joined list.
NOTE This list is by no means exhaustive.
With regard to the colours of cattle it will be observed
that I have used the forms with Noun prefixes, e.g., UmduBu,
umhlophe, impunga, etc. Relative concords are used with
these words to make them qualify a noun or noun understood,
e.g., inkomo emdu6u ; inkomazi empunga, etc.
Feminine English
ibanqulekazi black or red beast,
elimnyama with white belly,
or eliBomvu. the white streaks
meeting on the
back at the hips.
eBomvu red beast without
spots.
uBuBendekazi liver-coloured beast.
ufiphakazi dust-coloured beast.
ihhemukazi a black, red, brown
or yellow beast
with white on one
side or both.
ihungqukazi brindle-coloured
beast.
ihwanqakazi white and black,
brown and white
or white and red
beast.
Feminine English
ukholokazi yellow, sandy-
coloured beast ;
dark yellow.
iklilakazi, beast with white on
Masculine
iBanqule elimnyama
or eliBomvu.
eEomvu
uEuBende
uFipha
iHhemu
iHungqu
iHwanqa
Masculine
uKholo
iKlila, iKlilathi
iklilathikazi the throat.
32 A
iLunga
eMavovo
uMdaka
iiMduBu
iMfezi t
uMhlophe
uMlaza
iMpemvu
iMpofu
iMpunga
uMsheko
Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
ilungakazi
umdakakazi
umdiiBukazi
imfezikazi
umhlophekazi
umlazakazi
impemvukazi
impofukazi
impungakazi
umshekokazi
uMthuku
umtlwkukazi
black beast, with
white patches over
stomach, legs and
back.
skimmel or straw-
berry coloured
beast.
dun-coloured beast.
yellow, sandy-
coloured beast;
dark yellow.
beast with a white
stripe, or white
collar round its
throat.
white beast.
whitish beast, with
thin, scattered,
black streaks over
the body.
beast, black, yellow,
red or brown, with
white face.
pale, red- yellow
beast.
grey beast.
black beast with a
dash of white on
the side and on-
ward to the shoul-
der.
mouse - coloured
beast.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
33
eMvuSomaSele
Masculine
iNala
iNco
iNhlamvu
uNhlekwane
iNkone
iNkone elele umuntu
esiswini
iNsasa
skimmel or straw-
berry coloured
beast.
Feminine English
inalakazi red or black beast
with small white
spots about the
legs and sides.
incokazi red beast, speckled
with white spots,
that is, white
patches here and
there.
inhlamvukazi red beast without
spots.
unhlekwanekazi black beast with
white stripes run-
ing from the shoul-
ders to the sides.
inkonekazi beast of any colour,
i.e., black, red,
yellow, brown,
with white
speckles down the
ridge of the back.
OR a white beast
with large red
spots on stomach,
white beast with
large black spots
on stomach.
inkonekazi
elele umuntu
esiswini
insasakazi
skimmel or straw-
berry coloured
beast.
34
iNsundu
iNtenjane
iNtulo
iNtusi
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Masculine
iNyaluthi
iNzima
iNzotha
ePhuzingweBu
i Qola
uThuthu
iWaBa, iWasa
insundukazi
intenjanekazi
intulokazi
intusikazi
Feminine
inyaluthikazi
inzimakazi
inzothakazi
iqolakazi
uthuthukazi
iwaBakazi,
iwasakazi
dark brown-coloured
beast; d u n -
coloured beast.
lightish-yellow beast
with white patch
running up one or
both hind legs.
beast, black or red,
with a white head.
red-coloured beast,
with a small white
spot on the side,
in front of one or
both of the hind
legs.
English
dark yellow, almost
brown beast,
black beast.
red or white beast,
generally with
white and brown
spots on side ; also
red brown and
white.
beast with a white
snout.
black or red beast
with white from
small of the back,
downwards.
dust-coloured beast.
black or red beast
with white belly.
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
35
iBeka
isiCengeza
umDlovu
uluGelekeqe
isiGqala
isiGudwa
isiHleza
iMbedula
iMpothane, iMpothela
iMpoxela
iMpoxeyana
iNdlezane
iNgcungu
iNgquthu
one of the cattle given as part
of Io6olo. Each of these cattle
is called " ibeka, " the plural
is " amabeka ".
beast with widely spread horns,
curving in and forming the
shape of the sides of a basin.
ox with horns turned downwards
or round the face.
beast with horns pointing back-
wards.
cow with very little milk.
cow milked without calf.
beast with a broken horn.
beast with horns pointing back-
wards.
beast with twisted horns.
beast with sharply pointed and
erect horns.
beast with horns of about two
inches.
cow with calf, within a week or
two since with calf. NOTE
" umdlezane " is a woman
with an infant at breast.
beast with horns curving so as
to almost meet.
beast given to a mother-in-law
by a son-in-law, in connection
with her daughter whom he
has married or deflowered.
N.B. This beast is solely the
property of the mother of the
girl impregnated, and she may
do anything she likes with it.
36
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
iNkom'cchophe ngomsila
iNkom'egqizile
iNkom'emahlawe
iNkomo yesondlo
iNqudulu (ingudulu)
iNsizwakazi
iNxahi
iNyumbakazi
uPhishilili
um Qholiso
umThantazana
umThantikazi
isiThokazana
isiThokazi
isiThole
iZi6ulekazana
beast with a white brush of the
tail.
beast with a sock, or white on
one or all the legs.
beast with horns that are short,
curved, and hang down on
the surface of the skin.
beast paid for having nourished
and brought up a child.
poly beast (hornless).
poly cow (hornless).
bull that has been castrated
when full-grown.
queen cow, sterile cow.
beast with tall horns sloping and
pointing backward.
beast slaughtered by an in-
tended bridegroom in honour
of his fiancee on her betrothal
visit to his kraal.
young or small heifer.
full-grown heifer.
young or small heifer.
full-grown heifer.
heifer.
heifer that has had only the
first calf.
Cattle Diseases in English and Zulu
English
Abscess
Actinomycosis Lumpy
jaw
Anthrax
Zulu
ithumba
umadilwana
umBendeni
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
37
Black quarter Spons-
siekte
Constipation droegal-
siekte
Diarrhoea
East Coast Fever
Foot and Mouth Disease
Gall sickness
Heartwater
Lumpy Skin Disease
Lungsickness
Mange
Nagana
Pneumonia
Red Water
Ringworm
Stiffsickness (thrce-day-
stiff sickness).
Tuberculosis
uphezukomkforto ; umanyongana
ukuqumba
ukusheka ; ukuhuda ; isihudo
umanyonyoBa ; ukufa (kwezi-
nkomo) ; kwamakhizane
ukufa komlomo
inyongo ; isashu
ukufa kwenhliziyo
umakluikhumesana
umahagane
utwayi
uNakane
isidlanga
isikhuBa
umBandamu
uthathamela
isifuBa
Colours of Horses
English
Bay
Black
Blue-dun
Brown
Chestnut
Cream
Grey
Piebald Black and
white
Skewbald Red and
white
Star (with any colour)
Zulu Masculine Zulu Feminine
eliBomvu inhlamvukazi
elimnyama inzimakazi
elimdaka, umdaka umdakakazi
elinsundu ensundukazi
ifosi ifosikazi
ulaza ulazakazi
elimpunga impungakazi
ilunga ilungakazi
inco
indonya
incokazi
indonyakazi
38 A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
White elimhlophe umhlophektzi
Yellow-dun elimdaka, umdaka umdakakazi
Horse Sicknesses
Brokenwind
Horse-sickness
Mange
Nagana
Saddle-sore
Worms
iphika
isimoliya
utwayi
unakane
isilonda, isikofu
amapapisi
English
Black
Black and White
Black and White
spotted
Blackish-grey
Brownish-grey
Colours of Goats
Zulu Masculine
emnyama
ilunga, ibanqule
emafahlafahla
umzondo (or
ingwevu ngoku-
mnyama)
ingwevu ngokun-
sundu
emdaka
insundu
Dark-brown
Light-brown
Light-red with yellow insele
muzzle
White emhlophe
Yellow empofu
Zulu Feminine
inzimakazi
ilungakazi, ibanqu-
lekazi
emafahlafahlakazi
umzondokazi (or
ingwevukazi ngo-
kumnyama)
ingwevukazi ngo-
kunsundu
umdakakazi
insundukazi
inselekazi
emhlophekazi
empofukazi
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
39
Common ear- marks placed on
Cattle, horses, sheep and goats
Description
English of ear -mark
Half-moon portion so cut off that the
remaining mark re-
sembles a half-moon
Hole hole through any part of
any ear
Skey (skei) portion so cut off that the
remaining mark re-
sembles the nick of a
skey, into which the
strop is hooked
Slit a straight cut through
middle of ear near the
tip
Square one side of the slit cut
(winkelhaak) away
Stump tip of ear cut off
Swallow-tail tip so cut away that the
end of ear resembles
end of tail of a swallow
Zulu
ugegeBu
imboBo
isikeyi
indleBe edatshuli-
weyo
isikwde
isihunu
inkonjane
CHAPTER VII
Common Human Diseases
For some of the terms I am indebted to The Native
Teachers' Journal (Vol. XXIII, No. 3 of April, 1944, and
Vol. XVIII, No. 2 of January, 1939).
English
Appendicitis
Zulu
ukuvuthwa kwetunjana elilenga ku-
bobobo
40
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Asthma
Blister
Boil
Bronchitis
Bulla
Cancer in Abdomen
Chicken-pox
Cold
Colic
Constipation
Consumption
Diarrhoea
Dropsy
Duodenal ulcer
Dysentery
Eczema
Enteric
Epidemic outbreak
Gastric Ulcer
Gonorrhoea
Heart Disease
Indigestion
Influenza
Leprosy
Malaria fever
Measles
Meningitis
Miners' Phthisis
Mumps
Palpitation
umBefu (ufuBa) ; isifuBa somoya
ishashaza
intumbane (ithumba)
isishiso semithambo yomoya
ibanyaza
ixhwala esiswini
inqiiBukinjwana
umkhuhlane
isisu esisikayo
ukusongeleka
ixhwala (isifuBa)
ukusheka ; ukuhuda
umzimba ogcwele amanzi ; (isikhu-
hlukhuhlu)
isilonda ethunjini
isihudo samatheketheke ; (isihudo esi-
negazi)
ukuquBuka okuvuzamanzi (umsasa-
ndla) ; (umuna)
imbo yesihudo segazi
ubadane (imbo)
isilonda esiswini
iBuBa, ugcunsula
isifo senhliziyo
isilungulela
imfuluyeza
uchoko
uhlonzane (umalaleveva)
isimungumungwane
isifo esivuvukisa imithambo yentamo
nomhlandla
isifuBa sasemgodini
uzagiga (uqilaza)
.ukushaya kwenhliziyo (ukugquma)
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
41
Papillonia or Wart
Pimple (on face)
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Rheumatic Fever
Ringworm
Scabies
Smallpox
Syphilis
T.B. of the lungs
Typhus
Whooping-cough
Miscellaneous
Abscess
Apoplexy
Birthmark
Cataract
Collapse
Concussion
Conjunctivitis
eyes)
Convulsions
(sore
Deformity
Discharging ear
Dizziness
Ear-wax
Faint
Fit (epileptic)
Germ
Gland
Heat and Sunstroke
Hysteria
insiimpa
induna eBusweni
ihlaBa ; isiboBo
isishiso samaphaphu (isidlanga)
umkhuhlane wekhunkulo
umBandamu
ukhwekhwe
ingxoBongo ; iiPokisi
isipatsholo
isifuBa se-T.B.
imbo yezintwala
wnpe Iwezingane
izinhlo6onhlo6o
ithumba
ukutheleka kwegazi eBuchosheni
umkhangu
umlanga ehlweni (phakathi)
ukuphela amandla ; ukufumbeka
phansi
ukungquBuzeka
amehlo aBomvu
ukudlala, ukuthuthumela komzimba
kwenziwa isifo
ixhwala
indleBe ephumubovu
isinxi (inzululwane)
isigonogono
ukuquleka
isithuthwane
igciwane (lesifo] ; (inungunungwana)
indlala
isifiithafutha sokmhiswa yilanga
umhayizo or ihaBiya
42
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Insanity
Lumbago
Miscarriage
Mucus from lungs
Navel-cord
Neuritis
Obstructed labour
Paralysis
Pass loose stools
Placenta (after-birth)
Pus
Rash
Scurvy
Sputum
Sterility (of female)
Still-birth
Stupor
Swelling
Tapeworm
Threadworms
T.B. of spine
Tumour
Varicose veins
Worm
ukuhlanya
iqolo (umnyuka waseqolo)
ukuphuphuma kwesisu
isikhwehlela
inkaBa
uBuhlungu Bemizwa
ukiixakela
ukuqedwa amandla nokuzwa ;
kwemithambo (ukoma]
huda
umzanyana
uBovu
umquBuko
umsheshaphansi
isikhwehlela
uBunyumba
uphumefile (umphunzo)
isihlwathi
ukuvuvuka
isilo esimhlophe
oshobishobi Bezilo (izimpethwane)
i-T.B. yomhlandla
ihlumela (isimila]
ikhunkulo lemithambo
isilo
Bones of the Body
Amathambo omzimba
English
Ankle
Anterior frontenalle
Atlas (root of back of
neck first cervical
vertebra)
Calf bone (Fibula)
Zulu
iqakala
ukhakhayi
isahlulampisi
isithumbu
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
43
Canine (side tooth 2)
Cervical Vertebrae
Cheek-bone (Zygomatic
bone)
Chin
Coccyx (tail)
Collar bone (clavicle)
External acoustic meatus
External occipital Pro-
tuberance
False Rib
Femur (thigh-bone)
Floating Rib
Foramen Magnum
Front tooth (incisor)
Frontal bone
Frontal eminence
Funny-bone (elbow)
Hip-bone
Humerus (upper arm bone)
Inner bone of Forearm
(ulna)
Knee-cap (patella)
Lower jaw (mandible)
Lumbar Vertebra
Molar
Nape of neck
Nasal bone (nose-root)
Nasal Cavity
Nose-bridge
Occipital bone
Outer bone of Forearm
(radius)
Phalanges of Foot (or toes)
Phalanges of hand
elenja
isizunguzungu
isidindi
isilevu
umsinsila
ingqwa6a6a
isiqhoma
incengela (umantshasa)
uBambo olunqumunqumu
elenyonga, or inyongd
umpethwane
isikhonkosi
elingaphambili
iBunzi, isiphongo, isimongo
ihlonhlo
indololwane
itheBe, igeBe
elifuphi (lengalo)
ithambo logalo
ivi
umhlathi
ungceshana
elomhlathi
isijungujungu
imvelelo
amankanka
umBombo
isiphundu
imbilathi
amathambo ezinzwane
amathambo eminwe
44
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Prominent part of the
face, just above the
eye, on which the eye-
brow grows
Rib
Seat-bone (Ischium)
Shin-bone (Tibia)
Shoulder-blade (scapula)
Side of head or Parietal
bone
Skeleton
Small of back
Spine
Sternum (breast-bone)
Temporal bone
Tooth
True Rib
Wedge (sacred) bone
(sacrum)
Wisdom tooth
Wrist
Xiphoid process of
sternum
Zygoma
ithundit
uBambo
isitiUli
umondlo
isiphanga
ucezu Iwekhanda
ukhehle
idanda ; iqolo
umhlandla
uvalo
isikhala soBuso
izinyo
uBambo
ihoho
eloBambo
isihlakala
ucaBanga, uvalo
inhlafuno
Parts of the Body
Okomzimba
Adam's apple
Arm-pit (axilla)
Back of shoulders
Biceps or arm muscles
Big toe
Blood-vessel
Buttock
Calf of the leg
igilo
ikhwapha
amagxalaBa
izinkonyane
uqukula
umthambo
isinqe
isithumbanja
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Cheek
Clitoris ..
Double Chin
Ear drum
Epidermis (outer skin)
Eyebrow
Eyelash
Eye pupil
Female breast
Female mons veneris
Groin
Gums
Hard Palate
Head of Glans Penis
Heel
Hip
Index finger
Knuckle
Labia majora (folds of
the vulva feminae)
Lap
Leg (leg of a person)
Leg (lower foreleg)
Little tongue (uvula)
Lobule of the ear
Lower lip
Male public region
Man's breast
Nape of neck
Navel
Neck (i.e., the whole
trunk lying between
the head and collar
bones)
isihlathi
umsunu
iBilo
iso lendleBe
imveBu
ishiya
likhophe
inhlamvu ycso
iBele
isidumbu
imbilapho
izinsini
ulwanga
inkanda
isithende
inqulu
unkomba
iqupha
amaleBe
ithanga
umlenze
ugalo, intungwa, isilho, umBala
ugovana
isicuBu sendleBe
udeBe
uBumbu
isiBele
isijingo
inkaBa
intamo
46
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
isitshako
Opening between front
teeth
Penis
Rectum (Anus)
Shin
Shoulder
Side of head
Small finger
Small Toe
Spinal cord
Testicle
Thigh (all that part of
the leg between knee
and hip)
Thumb
Tip of tongue
Toe
Tongue
Tonsil
Upper limb (forearm)
Upper lip
Vulva
Waist
Wind-pipe
umphambili, umthondo
ingquza, ididi, igolo
umBala
ihlombe
ucezu Iwekhanda
ucikicane
uzwani oluncane
umnqonqo
isende
ithanga
isithupha
inkotha
uzwani
ulimi
ilaka (uvula]
umkhono
udevu
inhlunu
ukhalo (iguma]
uqhoqhoqho
Internal Organs
IziBilini
Bile
Bladder
Brain
Colon
Diaphragm (outer cover-
ing of the bowels)
Duodenum
^nyongo
isinye
uBuchopho
inanzi
untu
ithumbu lenanzi
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
47
Gall-bladder
Heart
Intestines
Kidney
Large intestine
Liver
Lung
Marrow of bone
Pericardium
Small intestine
Spleen
Stomach
Injuries
English
Abrasion
Contused wound
Contusion
Haemorrhage
Incised wound
Lacerated wound
Punctured wound
Weal (caused by a blow
from a stick or strap)
Wound (on head)
Wound (a wound caused
by a sharp instrument
on any part of the
body)
Fractures
Ukwaphuka kwamathambo
Comminuted fracture uvithithambo
Complicated fracture umchachathambo
Compound fracture uthambokhoxe
isikhwama senyongo
inhliziyo
amathumbu
inso
ithumbu likapopopo
isi6indi
iphaphu
umkantsha
ulwambesi
usinyaka
uBende
isisu
Ukulimala
Zulu
isihuzu
iphuphusi
ithuBulela
ukopha
inxe6a elisaluhlanga
inxeda eliqhaqhaBulekile
inxeBa elichambuzekile
umvimbo
tngozi
inxeBa
48
. A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Depressed fracture
Green-stick fracture
Impacted fracture
Simple fracture
umfehlezathambo
ufecethambo
umqwalathambo
uthambophoqo
CHAPTER VIII
Seasons in Zulu
intwasahloBo spring ; beginning of summer
isilimela the ploughing season ; ALSO, a
group of stars which may be
observed in the early morning
during the month of August.
They are so called because
they appear at a time when
ploughing begins
the green-mealie season
summer .(generally)
midsummer
winter (generally)
midwinter
Summer
In his Zulu English Dictionary (1905), page 251,
Bryant gives the following valuable statement of the divi-
sions of summer, as known to the Zulus.
ukwindla
ihloBo
ihloB' elikhulu
uBusika
u6usika oBumpofu OR
uSusika oBukhulu
1 . lethwese ihloBo
2. sekululiBo OR sckuyi-
sikhathi soliBo
the summer has come round, i.e.,
at the time of the first rains,
when the new grass begins to
cover the land.
it is now the time of the first
fruits, when green pumpkins,
gourds, and the like are eaten
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
49
3. sckusekwindla OR se-
kuyisikhathi sokwi-
ndla
4. sekulihloBo elikhulu ;
sekuphakathi kokwi
ndla
5. sekuphele ukwindla ;
sekuphele ihloBo
sekungena u6usika ;
sekuyisikhathi soku-
it is now the time of the new
food, when the new mealies
(not amaBele} are eaten, when
the amaBele are just commen-
cing to produce ears and the
birds to give trouble
it is now great or midsummer,
it is now the middle of ukwindla-
time, i.e., when the amaBele
are in full ear and the mealies
ripening
the ukwindla-time is now at an
end, the summer season is now
finished, i.e., when the ama-
Bele and mealies are already
ripe and are drying on the
stalk
the winter-season is now coming
in ; it is now harvesting time
vuna
Phases of the Moon
The periods of the reign of a moon as known to the Zulus,
are set forth, in the subjoined statement, which I quote from
page 465 of Bryant's Zulu English Dictionary (1905).
Faye has made two minor additions to this statement,
which are shown in brackets vide page 57 of his book en-
titled Zulu References.
the moon is just appearing, as
on the day of the new moon
it has appeared, as a new moon
in the -first day or two
it is in the first quarter
it is now full moon
inyanga iyethwasa
ithwese
isilucezu
isihlangene or isidilingene
(or isigcwele]
50
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
isihlephukile or isilucezu
isifulathele ezansi or isi-
phethele ezansi
isilibamuza
it is in the last quarter
it is towards the end of the last
quarter when the crescent gets
to lean down flat towards the
east, not standing vertically
as before
it is the last day before dis-
appearance, or sometimes also
it is already full
it has gone or disappeared
it is the black or very dark day
today, i.e., the one immediate-
ly following the moon's dis-
appearance, and with the
Native, a day of solemn
retreat, abstinence from work
and pleasure-seeking
it is a white or brighter day
today, i.e., the second after
disappearance of moon and
one immediately preceding its
reappearance, upon which the
Natives are free again to work
it is coming in or appearing
it is laughed at by the (chatter-
ing) birds, i.e., when setting
just before sunrise
it is now overtaken by dawn,
i.e., sets during daylight, after
full moon
Many an apparent discrepancy may be conveyed by
interpreting chronological sequence of events in the exact
calculation of calendar months, whereas a perfectly honest
and truthful, illiterate, Native witness may be giving evidence
and basing his calculations of time in accordance with truly
ngolumhlope namuhla
isiyethwasa
isihlekwa yizinyoni
(isiyaselwa)
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
51
Native custom, on the lunar months which can only approxi-
mately be made to synchronise with the calendar months
of the year.
Even when these lunar months are used with their
Native names, there are, today, not many Natives who will
agree with the exactitude, demanded by a court of law, on
the names of the months in their correct sequence in order
to ensure accuracy of date when an event occurred.
It stands to reason, therefore, that infinite caution must
be exercised in interpreting chronological order of events as
given by 'an illiterate witness, in order to avoid discounten-
ancing his evidence on the grounds of discrepancy. For
example, if a witness is thinking in terms of lunar months,
his statement " Ngenyanga efile " and " Ngokuthwasa
kwenyanga " may stand for " During the last lunar month "
and " At the commencement of the new moon" respectively,
and should not be interpreted as " Last month " and " Next
month " at the risk of conveying a false impression to the
Court.
This point may best be illustrated by giving the following
lists of lunar months taken from lists given by men who
might claim to be experts in the matter :
A.
(Prof. Doke's Text-
Book of Zulu Gram-
mar, page 370)
1. uncwaBa
(also called
Unhloyile, the
month when
kites appear),
the month
B.
(A. I. Molefe &
T. Z. Masondo
EzomdaBu We-
zizwe ZaBansu-
ndu, page 191)
uncwaBa
(June)
C.
(P. Lamula, Isa-
Belo sikaZulu,
page 139)
uncwaBa
(August)
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
when the grass
is green, starts
about the
middle of July
2. umandulo (used
as " hlonipha "
for Umpandu,
also called Iso-
kanqangi), the
month when
the first gar-
dens appear
starts towards
the middle of
August
3. umfumfu
the month
when the new
shoots show
starts early in
September
4 . tdwezi
the month
when the grass-
hopper larvae
appears on the
grass starts
early in
October
5. uziBandlela
the month
when the paths
are overgrown
(also called
Udlolo), starts
umandulo
(July)
timandulo
(September)
uziBandlela
(September)
umfumfu
(October)
ulwezi
(November)
umasingana
(October)
uziBandlela
(December)
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
53
10.
very early in
November
umasingana
(also called
Ungcela), the
month for
looking after
the pumpkins
starts at the
beginning of
December
unhlolanja
the month of
the mating of
dogs starts at
the beginning
of January
undasa
the month of
the abundance
of new mealies
starts at the
very beginning
of February
umBasa
(also called
Um6aso), the
winter fires are
first lit, starts
at the end of
February
ungulaziBuya
( als o called
Undida), starts
ulwezi
umasingana
(November) (January)
ungcela
(December)
undasa
(January)
utnBaso
(February)
unhlolanja
(February)
undasa
(March)
um6aso
(April)
unhlaSa
(May)
54
11
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
towards the
end of March
unhlangula
(April)
unhlangula
(Unhlangulana)
(June)
umaquBa
(May)
untulikazi, ( Uma-
quBa, Unhlangu-
la}. (July)
unhlaSa
the month of
the aloe flowers
starts late in
April
12. unhlangulana
(also called
Uluthudlana or
U m a, q u 6 a
omncane), the
month of the
early winds
starts about
the middle of
May
13. umaquSa
(also called
Untulini, Umpo-
fu, Untulikazi,
Uluthuli, Unhla-
ngula), the month
of dust blowing
starts in mid-
June
The natural conclusion is that no interpretation of time
can possibly give the accuracy reflected by a Police report
such as " at 6.15, on the morning of August the 17th, 1946."
and the witness' evidence cannot be dismissed as contra-
dictory merely on the time or date factor.
Professor Doke sets forth the terms used to indicate
various Periods of Time during the Day and Night, as known
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 65
to the Zulus, in the subjoined statement, which I quote from
page 372 of his Text-Book of Zulu Grammar (4th edition).
ngokukhala kwezinkuku zokuqala (1st cockcrow)
fngokukhala kwezinkuku zesi6ili (2nd cockcrow)
\ngokuphuma kwekhwezi (at the appearing of the morning
star)
fngokukhala kwezinkuku zesithathu (3rd cockcrow)
\ngokuphuma kwendosa (at the appearing of Jupiter)
fngokwehla kwezinkuku (at the descent of the fowls)
\^kumpondozankomo (very early morning)
fngovivi ~\
\kusasa J (at early dawn)
Cngokuphuma kwenhlamvu (at sunrise)
< ngokuphuma kwelanga
[ekuseni kakhulu (in the early morning)
ekuseni (in the morning)
ngokufudumala kwelanga (when the sun is hot)
f ngenhlanzane (at milking time)
\ekuseni kwasemini (mid-morning)
femini (at midday)
\ukuqopha kwelanga (sun in zenith)
emini yantambama (early afternoon)
ntambama (in the afternoon)
selimathunzi (at time of mountain shadows)
Cseli6antu6ahle \ (sun at the base of the trees)
\selikhalazemithi J 3i
56
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
fngokushona kwenhlamvu\
\jigokushona kwelanga j (at sunset)
ngokuqundeka kwamehlo (at the time of the blunting of the
eyes, at dusk)
ngokuhwelela (evening)
kusihlwa (late evening)
eBusuku (at night)
phakathi kwama6ili (midnight, between the two nights)
CHAPTER IX
AGRICULTURAL TERMS
Agriculture
Arrest floods
Agricultural Officer
Bare hill
Betterment area
Clayey-soil
Clayey-loam
Cultivated lands
Crop rotation
Crop-growing
Cultivation of soil
Carrying capacity
Culling
Contour
Contour System
Despoiled land
Dry land (i.e., land
not under irrigation)
Eroded land
Expert advice
UkuseBenzisa umhlaBathi
ukuthiya izikhukhula
inyanga yokulima
inkalo eqothukile
isigodi esihlengiwe OR esizohlengwa
isidaka
isidakangxuBe
izindawo ezilinyiweyo amasimu
ukulandelisana izinhloBo zokudla OR
ukuphambanisa izilimo ensimini
ukulima ukudla
ukulima
amandla amadlelo okondla imfuyo
ukuhhmga
imiBundu
isu lemiBundu
amasimu asonakele
amasimu angekho enkaseni
umhlaBathi osugugudekile
iseluleko sezingcweti
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
57
Fertility of soil
Fertiliser
Furrows
Floods
Forest
Garden
Gravel
Germination
Grazing lands
Grass-clad hill
Grazing Camp
paddock
Grass preservation
Humus
Ill-treating of the land
Irrigated land
Irrigation
Kraal manure
Loam
Moist land
Moisture
Newly-burnt veldt
(both when no new
grass has grown
and when young
grass has commen-
ced to grow)
Natural forest
Overstocking
Reclamation of land
Rehabilitation of land
ukuvunda komhlaBathi
umanyolo
imisele
izikhukhula imibidli
ihlathi
isivande, isife
ukhethe, umguBane, uhlalu
ukufeca kwenhlamvu etshaliwe
amadlelo
inkalo yotshani
inkambu yamadlelo
ukonga amadlelo
umBolelaBiBi
ukuphatha umhlaBathi kaBi
amasimu asenkaseni OR amasimu
anenkasa
inkasa
umquBa
umhlaBathingxuBe
umhlaBathi onomswakama OR ifenya
umswakama
ihlungu
ihlathi lemvelo
(a) ukukhinyaBeza amadlelo nge-
mfuyo
(b) ukusindwa kwamadlelo yimfuyo
(c) ukugajwa kwamadlelo yimfuyo
ukuvusa umhlaBathi
ukuhlengwa komhlaBathi
58
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Rotational grazing
Reduction of stock
Rivers and spruits
Soil
Soil-clay
Sand
Sandy loam
Sand soil
Sub-soil
Sowing
Seed
Soil Erosion
Sweet grasses
Stock limitation
Stock
Stock of better value
Top-soil
Tramping of
land by stock
Virgin soil
Veldt-burning
(general)
Veldt-burning
(firebreaks)
Weeding
Black-jack
Burr-weed
Cockle-burr
Hemp (Dagga)
ukuphumuza amadlelo
ukuphungula imfuyo
imifula nemifudlana
umhla6athi
udaka
isihlaBathi
isihla6athingxu6e
inhlaBathi
ugwadule
ukutshala
imbewu
ukugugudeka komhlaBathi
utshani oBumnandi, e.g., insinde,
uBaBe
(a) ukufuya ngokulinganisela
(b) ukwaBela amadlelo ngamanana
afaneleyo
imfuyo
imfuyo engcono
umhlaBathi wokudla
ukubuduzeka kwezwe yimfuyo
ingqatho
ukushisa amadlelo
ukuBaBela
ukuhlakula ukhula
Weeds
uqadolo
umanqokodo, ugudhithukela, uma-
ngqamfana
igcuma
insangu
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter 50
Iris indlolothi
Khaki ugawulaqhele, unukani
Senecio umphenjane
Witch-weed isona
Trees
Fig umkhiwane
Gum indlulamithi, ungamuthilini
Lemon ulamula (the fruit ilamula OR inhluze)
Mimosa isanqawe, umunga, umtholo
Oak umegela
Orange iwolintshi
Peach umpetshisi (the fruit ipetshisi}
Wattle umtholo, uwatela
CHAPTER X
Glossary of Zulu Forms of Greeting and Salutation
With the kind permission of the Native Teachers'
Journal, Vol. XXIII, No. 1 of October, 1943).
Forms of Greeting
1 . Zulu \ (Never ma-Zulu) Zulus /
2. Nina BakwaZulu \ Zulus !
3. Nina BakaMjokwana ka- Zulus !
NdaBa
4. Nina BakaPhunga Zulus !
noMageBa
5. Muzi kaZulu \ Zulus !
Valedictory Words
6. Okumhlophe Zulu \ Farewell Zulus /
7. Amehlo amhlophe Nina Farewell Zulus /
8. Kungakhoke Muzi ka So it is Zulus / au
60
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
So it is Zulus /
I wish you good journey
Angekhoke \
Indlela emhlophe Zulu \
Designations
Isizwe
UMBuso (Not uHulumeni]
U LusiBalukhulu
UMkhandlu woMBuso
IPalamende
Ilunga lePalamende
Indlu yezigele zoMBuso
Isigele soMBuso
UNdunankulu woMBuso
Isandla sikaNdunankulu
woMBuso
UNdunankulu wezindaBa-
zaBantu
UNdaBandaBazaBantu
(NOT umbali]
UNdaBazaBantu omkhulu
UNdaBazaBantu
INkosi yeNkantolo
IBandla laBakhulumeli
27. Umkhulumeli waBantu
28. Ingonyama
29. Isiphakanyiswa (NOT
iNkosi)
30. UMnumzana (NOT
iNkosi}
The State
Government
Governor-General
Cabinet
Parliament
Member of Parliament
Senate
Senator
Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Native Affairs
Secretary for Native Affairs
Chief Native Commissioner
Native Commissioner
Magistrate
Native Representative
Council
Member of Native Repre-
sentative Council
Paramount Chief
Appointed Chief
Tribal Chief
Salutations
31. To Governor-General (Thrice) Eayede! Eayede! Eayede!
32. To Prime Minister (Twice) Eayede ! Eayede !
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interprets* 61
33. To Cabinet Minister (Once} Eayede !
34. To Secretary for
Native Affairs (Once] Bayede !
35. To Chief Native
Commissioner (Once] Eayede !
36. To Magistrate and
Native Com-
missioner Nkosi (NOT Eayede /)
37. To Paramount Chief Eayede ! Eayede ! UyiZulu !
OR Wena weNdlovu !
,, Wena weNkosi I
,, NdaBezitha !
,, MageSa !
Sithuli !
Zulu !
Silo !
Nda6a !
Nkonyane !
, , Nkonyane yeNkosi !
Zulu eliphezulu !
38. To Tribal and ap-
pointed Chiefs Their surnames, e.g., NgcoBo,
Zondi, etc. (NEVER Eayede !
or any of the Paramount
Chiefs' appellations as is often
done)
CHAPTER XI
Useful List of Words
A
ABaBomvana- (aBayeni] red ants (large)
isAmbane anteater (ant-bear)
isAngquma (isiChotho]
isAziso
A Guide for the Zulu Court Inter fireief
hail
announcement ; notification
isiBakabaka
iBansi
uBaqa
uBejane
imBeleko
umBoBe
isiBono
iBosho
uBova
imBovane (isandundiindu]
iBuBesi (ingonyama)
umBukwane
iBungezi
isiBuqo
imBuya
isiEankwa
isiEonkolo
iEululu
iEuzi (igundane]
B
sky ; firmament
greyhound
light-house
rhinoceros
skin used by Native women to
carry their babies on their
backs
buttermilk
abnormal protuberance of the
navel
a cartridge
bulldog
weevil
lion
korhan bird
beetle
harrow
pig-weed
B
lizard
ant, black (small)
puff-adder
rat
umCaBa
isiCaBucaBu
umChachazo
uChakide
ground-up boiled corn used with
amasi
hairy caterpillar
stream
weasel
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
63
isiChelegwana
iChiBi
iChide
idci
idmbi
udngo lomoya
isiCoco
isiCongco
isiCupho
iDada
iDayimani
iDiye
isiDleke
indlu yeNyoni
iDlelo
iDoloba
iDuBe
isiDuli
Dunga
Ela
Endle
Enyuka
Ewuka
stonechat
lake ; pond
one-eyed person ; person who
has lost the use of one of his
eyes
ear-ring
caterpillar
wireless
head-ring
summit
snare
D
duck
diamond
locust much eaten by boys out
herding cattle
nest (any bird's or fowl's nest ;
a hornet's nest ; bee's nest)
bird's nest
grazing land
town
zebra
ant-heap
disturb by stirring up ; upset
the quiet of people or things ;
disturb the mud at the bottom
of a pool or stream and so
dirty the water
E
winnow
in the veld
go up ; tend upward ; ascend
go or move downward, in a
downward course. Move lower
64
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
imFe
isiFe
umFelwa
umFelwakazi
uFezela
uFudu
umFula
isiFunda
iFusi
sweet-reed
small garden plot planted early
in season
widower
widow
scorpion
tortoise
river
district
field once cultivated but lying
idle
umGankla
iGatsha
isiGcawu
iGeBe
iGeja
uGi6e
iGoBongo (iGoSolondo)
umGodi
koodoo
branch of a tree
spot where cattle stand about
outside their kraal to avoid
mud, or place where men meet
for discussion of matters or
the trying of cases
snare for game which consists
of a large pit dug in places
where the game are known to
go, and covered with light
branches and grass
hoe, plough
snare for game made of rope
with a noose, the rope being
tied to the top of a young,
strong bending tree and the
loop (noose) laid across the
path of the game
empty cartridge case ; shell
mine ; pit ; hole
isiGodi
iGolide
isiGqizo
iGquma
iGqunyana
uGu
iGudu
iGundane
iGwaBaBa
uGwadule
umGwaqo
umGxala
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
valley
gold
bangle
hillock
kopje
coast
smoking-horn
mouse
crow (white-necked)
desert
road
crowbar
65
iHhala
amaHewu
umHlaBa
umHlaBa
umHlaBathi
isiHla6athi
umHlahlo
iHlaka (umThuBi]
uBuHlalu
isiHlambi
umHlandlothi (uSolo)
iHlanze
iHlathi
iHlathi lemvelo
isiHlava
H
harrow
drink made of thinned porridge
fermented
world ; earth ; land
aloe, with large thick leaves
soil
sand such as is found near rivers
assembly of men and witch-
doctors, met for the purpose
of finding out an evildoer
beestings, milk of a cow during
the first two or three days
after she has calved
beads
shower
flat-crown tree
thorn country ; bush country ;
bushveld
forest
natural forest
mealie-grub
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
iHlengethwa
iHleza
isiHleza
iHlokohloko
umuHlwa
umHlwenga
iHobe
Hosha
isiHosha
Hu6a
porpoise
mealie-cob without any grain on
beast with a broken-off horn or
horns
yellow finch
termite (white-ant)
mane (of horse, lion, etc.)
turtle-dove
pull out anything from among
others, such as grass from a
thatch, pole from a stack.
Hosha phansi drag or pull
along the ground
narrow valley ; ravine
move along by the stomach, as a
snake ; utter a sound like the
roaring and hissing of the sea,
like water when it is about to
boil, as a large number of
people singing together, as
the sound of hail falling at a
distance, or the singing of a
war song. iHu6o tempi (war
song)
ujantshi
ujojo
ijoka
uju
iJuBa
iKati
isiKebe
railway line
black, long-tailed kaf fir-finch
yoke
honey
dove
K
cat
boat
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
67
iKhade
isiKhala
uKhalo
isiKhatha
umKhathizwe
umKhaza
uKhethe
iKhetho
iKhizane
umKhombe
umKhomo
umKhongi
isiKhonkwane
isiKhonyane (iziNkumbi)
Khothoza
isiKhova
uKhozi
isiKhukukazi
umKhumbi
isiKhundla
uBuKhuphe
isiKhuza
water-melon
pass
ridge
hair-ball, found in the stomach
of cattle
horizon
tick
zinc
bridegroom's party
biggish brown tick
white rhinoceros
whale
bridegroom's man who is a go-
between the bridegroom and
future father-in-law ; he ar-
ranges the marriage, but his
special duty is to take the
iloBolo to the father-in-law or
guardian of the bride and ask
for the hand of the bride-
elect
peg of any kind, or beacon
locusts
glean ; gather in the remnants
of corn or any crop
owl
hawk
hen (domestic)
ship
situation ; place ; temporary
place of wild animal where it
has been lying and pressed
down the grass
fowl- vermin ; fowl-lice
slave ; menial
68
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
Khuza isaga
isiKhwe6u
uKhwekhwe Iwezinyawo
uKUBe
iKlolodo
iLangaBi
uLaza
umLaza
uSuLongwe
iLongwe
give a war-cry ; raise difficulties
mealie cob and the corn thereon
scale (on feet)
eagle
large mongoose with a white
bushy tail and grey skin
L
flame
cream
whey of thick, sour-milk
dung of large animals, such as
cow, ox, buffalo, etc.
piece of dry dung used for fuel
iLulwane (isihlwithandleSe) bat
uLwandle
uLembu
uMahambanendlwana
umMango
uMakhelwane
iMaphti
iMbaBala
umMbankwa (uqhothetshe-
ni, isiBankwa
iMbodla
iMbongolo
iMbungulu
iMbuzi
iMfene
iMfengwane (some Natives
call it " impempe " or
" inDweBa ")
uMiyane
sea
spiderweb
M
bagworm
steep incline ; steep slope
neighbour
map
female bush-buck
lizard
wild-cat
ass
bug
goat
baboon
police whistle
mosquito
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
69
isiMo somhlaba
uModa
uMoyawezwe
iMpala
iMpartgele
iMpisi
iMpofu
iMpongo
iMpumalanga
iMpumputhe
iMpungushe
iMpunzi
iMvu
iMvu yamanzi
isiNana
iNcwadi yamaMaphu
iNcwadi yocingo
iNdiBilishi
iNdima
iNdlela
iNdlovu
iN dlovundwane (iNdlovu-
dayana)
iN dlulamithi
iNdluzule
iNdwa
umNenke
isiNgamoya
umNgenda
geography
sugar-cane
climate
gazelle ; impala ; antelope
guinea-fowl
hyena
eland
billy-goat
east
blind person
fox or jackal
duiker
meal of any kind
sheep
seal
N
plat ana toad
atlas
telegram
copper ; penny
middle-sized plot of ground for
cultivation ; a portion of
work set for anyone to per-
form
route ; foot or bridle-path
elephant
wart-hog ; long-tusked bush -
swine
giraffe
hartebeest
blue crane
snail
breeze
tributary
70
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
iNgide
umNgoma
uNgqoqwane (isiThwathwa)
iNgulule
iNgungumbane
iNgwaBaBana
iNgwe
iNhlangano
iNhlangwane
iNhlanzi
iNhlwaBusi (inkulungwane)
iNhlwathi (imvundama)
iNingizimu
iNja
iNjundu
iNkaBazwe
iNkalankala
iNkangala
iNkasa
iNkatha
iNkawu
umNkenke
iNkontazi
iNkonjane
uNkonka
iNkonkoni
iNkonyane
iNkuku
iNkulamandla
padlock
witch-doctor
frost
cheetah
porcupine
crow (ordinary)
leopard
junction
night-adder
fish
winged termite
python
south-west
dog
blunt knife
equator
crab
open elevated country,
where there are no trees
young hoppers ; young locusts
coil ; pad made of grass or
other soft substance, circular
in shape, used for the purpose
of placing on the head to
support what one carries
monkey
crack, as is often found in the
soles of the feet of Natives
cow
swallow
male bush-buck
wildebeeste
calf
fowl (domestic)
slug
i.e.,
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
iNkume
iNkundla
iNkungu
iNkunzi
iNkunzi yenGuluBe
isiNkwa
isiNkwe
uNogolantethe
uNogwaja
uNohhemu
uNomtheBe (uqumbu)
iNqama
iNqe
iNqola
iNsele
iNsephe
iNswempe
iNtaBa
iNtandane
iNtenesha
iNtethe
iNtinginono
iNtonldolo
iNtothoviyane
iNtshe
iNtshonalanga
iNtuthwane
iNtwala
uNwaBu
iNxala
centipede
spot where men meet for dis-
cussion of matters or the
trying of cases
mist
bull
boar
bread
bush-baby
stork
hare
crested crane
termite queen
ram (sheep)
vulture
wagon
ratel ; an animal that eats
honey
springbok
partridge
mountain
orphan
hare (red)
grasshopper
secretary bird
kapater ; castrated goat ;
wether (sheep or goat)
large, greenish-yellow, nasty-
smelling locust
ostrich
west
ant (red, small) (generic term)
louse
chameleon
rhebuck
72
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
iNxemu
iNxiwa
iNyakatho
iNyamazane
iNyandezulu
iNyathi
iNyoka
iNyosi
umNyovu
uPhapke
iPhela
uPhenyane
isiPhepho
iPigogo
iPhithi
iPhiva
isiPhunzi
iPhuphu
imPophoma
squint-eyed person
kraal-site
north-east
antelope
pure green
buffalo
snake
bee
hornet ; wasp
P
feather
cockroach
head sores of fowl
storm
peacock
blue-buck
water-buck
stump of a tree
young of birds
waterfall
imamba " snake
i Qanda
i Qaqa
Qatha
Qatha
Qhatha
i Qhina
isi Qhingi
i Qhude
egg
polecat
stout, strong, substantial ; stout
in make, such as a stout stick
break up new soil in ploughing
or hoeing
set one against another ; to set
on one person or animal to
fight another
steenbuck
island
cock
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
i Qhwa elikhitikile
isi Qinti
isi Qophamuthi
isi Qunga
snow
plot ; piece of land
woodpecker
tambootie-grass
73
iSaka6uli
uSeBe
iShantshihhovisi
isiShimeyana
uShoBishoBi
iShisandlu
amaSi
iSiliva
iSilo
inSimu
iShongololo (isongololo)
umSundu
uSungulo
black long-tailed kaffir-finch,
widow-bird
shore
charge office
very strong intoxicating drink,
made of treacle
tadpole
north-west
sour-milk
silver
leopard
garden ; cultivated land
millipede
cut-grub
awl
iThafa
umThakathi
iThanga
iThanga
iziThekeliso
imiThekelo
iziThelo
iTheku
iThendele
uThekwane
plain ; flat country ; open
country
wizard, witch
thigh
pumpkin
exports
imports
fruits
seaport, bay, harbour
partridge
mudlark ; the hammer-kop or
hammer-head bird
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
umThimba
uThingo Iwenkosazana
uThingo Iwenkosikazi
iThini
umThini
umThofu
imiThombo
iThusi
Thutha
isiThwalambiza
iThweBa
iTitihhoye
iTsheketshe
iTshwele (itswele)
bridal party
rainbow
tin
otter
lead
malt ; sprouted kaffircorn for
making beer
brass
transport
mantis
bay
plover
red ant
young chicken, fledgling
isi Vande
u Vemvane
urn Vemve
i Vondwe
ama Vovo
i Vovo
i Viikuthu
im Vukuzane (i Vukusi]
im VuBu
isiWa
amaWele
iWisa
iWuBa
iWula
small mealie garden planted
early in season
butterfly
wagtail (bird)
cane-rat
sediment remains of beer, beer
strainings
beer-strainer
large speckled pigeon or rock-
pigeon
mole
hippopotamus
W
precipice
twins
knobkerrie
hill side ; slope
oribi
A Guide for the Zulu Court Interpreter
75
uXamu
iXhaphozi
iXhwele
iXoxo (iDwi)
isiXulamasele
iguana, monitor lizard
swamp
person who is much given to
and is a slave to anything,
such as a great snuffer,
smoker, etc.
frog
stilt heron
iZa
isiZa
isiZalo
uZankosi
iZeze (iZenze)
isiZiBa
iZiBuko
umZiki
utnZila
iZinyane
amaZolo
iZulu
iZwamoya
iZwe
iZwekazi
yellow rhebuck
building-site ; kraal-site
mouth of a river
handcuff
flea
pond ; deep pool of water
ford, drift, or harbour
reedbuck (rietbok)
broad track, such as might be
made by game or cattle
young of an animal of the
smaller class, as the goat
dew
weather
barometer
country
continent
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